87-427 - Allegan County

DRAFT
S T A T E
O F
87-427
M I C H I G A N
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF ALLEGAN
October 13, 2011
HEALTH DEPARTMENT—ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR ANIMAL SHELTER
FENCING
WHEREAS, the Animal Shelter Task Force developed a building
use plan for the Animal Shelter based on the original
construction plans for the facility; and
WHEREAS, within this building use plan a six foot chain
link fence was listed to allow incoming animals to be
quarantined from the general population until they have
completed the standard isolation period; and
WHEREAS, the fence was proposed as part of the original
construction of the shelter but was dropped due to the approved
construction budget; and
WHEREAS, the Health Department followed the County
purchasing policy and recommends award to the lowest bid for
$1873.00 from Fence Consultants of West Michigan.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Allegan County Board of
Commissioners hereby approves the request from the Health
Department for an additional appropriation from the Animal
Shelter fund balance in an amount not to exceed $1,875.00 to be
used to cover this expense; and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Budget and Finance Director is
authorized to make the necessary budget adjustments to complete
this action.
ALLEGAN COUNTY
REQUEST FOR ACTION FORM
Request Type
Department Requesting
Submitted By
Contact Information
RFA#:
87-427
Date:
09/27/2011
Budget Adjustments or Transfers
Select a Request Type to reveal and complete required form.
Health
Willam Hinz on behalf of the Allegan County Animal Shelter
William Hinz Ext.4706
Revenue
Expense
Fund, Activity, Account:
Animal Shelter Fund Balance
Amount
$1,873.00
Explanation / Description:
Request to transfer funds from fund balance for the shelter to install a six foot chain link fence to separate a quarantine area from the main
part of the dog kennel. This division was proposed as part of the original construction of the shelter but was dropped due to the construction
budget for the building. The fencing is in the Allegan County Animal Shelter Medical and Building Use Plan approved by the shelter
committee. The Building Use Plan was developed based on the original construction plans for the Shelter. The fencing will allow incoming
animals to be quarantined from the general population until they have completed the standard isolation period . Attached are three bids for
the fencing the low bid being for $1873.00 from Fence Consultants of West Michigan and a copy of the Building Use Plan. The contractor
with the low bid has confirmed the bid is good through the end of November. Please provide the proper account numbers for the transfer.
Thank you.
FROM:
Contingency
TO:
Account:
Fund Balance
Account:
.
.
.
.
.
Amount $1,873.00
PAGE 1 of 1
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Allegan County Animal
Shelter Medical and
Building-Use Plan
May 25, 2011
Prepared By
Josh Mohler, ACAS Manager
Wishbone Pet Rescue
Saugatuck, MI
800 475-0776 ext. 400
Document no. ACAS0525111
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 PURPOSE
2
2.0 HEALTH PROGRAM
Overview
3
Parasite Control
3
Incoming Animal Vaccinations
4
Heartworm – FeLV Testing
5
Exit Vaccinations and Licensing
5
3.0 BUILDING USE PLAN
Overview
6
Incoming Animal Space
6
Quarantine Space
7
Main Dog Kennel
7
Outdoor Exercise Space
8
Control of Public Access
8
Hours of Operation
9
4.0 SUMMARY
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1
1.0 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide detail on Wishbone’s proposed health program and
use of space within the Allegan County Animal Shelter.
Details that follow include an overview of the need for vaccination and testing of animals,
separation of animals for safety and prevention of the spread of disease, and changes to the use
of specific facility areas. Costs and funding sources for the program are provided in detail.
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2.0 Health Program
Overview
In order to provide for the health of the homeless dogs and cats that are entrusted to the Allegan
County Animal Shelter for care, a three-fold wellness plan is recommended. This wellness plan
focuses on the prevention and treatment of internal and external parasites, testing for common
viruses and diseases that afflict dogs and cats, and prevention of common viruses through
vaccinating. This approach not only helps prevent the spread of disease and parasites within the
shelter, but also ensures that healthy animals are being released back into the community.
Fiscally, this plan is to be self-perpetuating, in that the wellness fee charged for adopted and
transferred animals will cover the cost of future wellness supplies. The proposed wellness fees
are $25 for dogs, and $15 for cats.
Parasite Control
Deworming both cats and dogs, with a broad spectrum dewormer to treat internal parasites is
recommended by the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) prior to placement in the
general population. The AAHA further recommends immediate treatment for fleas as fleas carry
disease and aid in the spread of parasites such as tapeworms.
Though many products exist on the market to address these problems in animals, complete
internal and external parasite control can quickly become cost-prohibitive. A cost-effective
solution we propose is two-fold: treat cats with Revolution, a Pfizer product containing
selamectin, and treat dogs with Iverhart Max, a Virbac product containing ivermectin, pyrantel
pamoate, and praziquantel. Revolution is a topical solution applied to the back of the cat and is
effective in killing fleas, preventing flea eggs from hatching, preventing heartworms, treating ear
mites, and treating roundworms and hookworms. Iverhart Max is a flavored, chewable product
that prevents heartworms, treats roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Although a costeffective solution to treating fleas in dogs is not currently available, the option we offer does
prevent the spread of tapeworms, which can be directly attributed to fleas a dog may be carrying.
Both of the above-mentioned products can be safely used in animals greater than 8 weeks of age.
Incoming animals between the ages of 3 weeks and 8 weeks will be given an oral dose of
pyrantel pamoate (effective in treating roundworms and hookworms), since most neonates
acquire these parasites from their mothers. Once these animals reach the age of 8 weeks, the
parasite control measures outlined above will be followed.
Estimated costs for parasite control:
• $1.70/cat - Revolution
• $3.00/dog - Iverhart Max
• $.10/pediatric - Pyrantel Pamoate
Estimated number of non-feral cats received by ACAS in 2010: 1095
Total cost to treat all incoming cats for parasites: $1,860
Number of dogs received by ACAS in 2010: 969
Total cost to treat all incoming dogs for parasites: $2,907
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Incoming Vaccinations
Due to the high cost, only vaccines that demonstrate a clear benefit against common and
significant shelter disease should be used. Adopters should be encouraged to discuss an
individual or customized vaccination program for their new pet with their veterinarian.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), in its revised 2006 vaccination guidelines,
addressed the specific case of recommended vaccines and use for animal shelters:
It is strongly recommended that immediate vaccination on entry be
made a priority in all shelters. Delaying vaccinations by even a few
hours may increase the risk of infection subsequent to exposure.
Failing to immediately vaccinate an animal on entry could compromise
an effective disease prevention program and possibly lead to
sustained shelter wide outbreaks of an infectious disease.
2006 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines
The following core vaccinations are recommended for all healthy animals immediately upon
intake:
Dogs (2 vaccines)
1. Distemper, adenovirus type 2(and hepatitis), parainfluenza, and parvovirus.
Vaccination for all dogs/puppies 6 weeks of age or older.
2.
Bordetella bronchispetica, intranasal.
Cost per vaccine: $1.80/Distemper, $1.70 Bordatella
Total cost to vaccinate all incoming dogs: $3,392
Cats (1 vaccine)
Feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia (distemper) and chlamydia psittaci.
Vaccination for all cats/kittens 10 weeks of age or older.
Cost per vaccine: $1.80
Total cost to vaccinate all incoming cats: $1,971
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Heartworm – FeLV Testing
The rate of heartworm infestation among dogs in Allegan County increased by an estimated
300% in 2010. Adopting potentially infected animals to the public results in a significant
financial burden to the family ($300-$700 for treatment), frequently resulting in the return of the
animal and considerable ill will toward the shelter and county.
All healthy dogs in the general population with favorable behavior assessments, available for
adoption, and garnering interest from the public or a rescue group, will receive a heartworm test.
•
•
•
Total dogs adopted or transferred in 2010: 418
Cost per heartworm test: $3.75
Total cost to test all adopted/transferred dogs for heartworms: $1,568
Similarly Feline Leukemia (FeLv) is an incurable, contagious, disease in cats and kittens.
Adopting an infected animal to the public may result in the spread of disease, particularly among
other cats within the family.
All healthy cats in the general population with favorable behavior assessments, available for
adoption, and garnering interest from the public or a rescue group, will receive a FeLv test.
•
•
•
Total cats adopted or transferred in 2010: 269
Cost per FeLv test: $8.40
Total cost to test all adopted/transferred cats for FeLv: $2,260
Exit Vaccinations and Licensing
Upon adoption, all animals will receive a 1-year rabies vaccination, administered by the shelter
veterinarian as required by law. All dogs will receive a 1-year county license.
Cost per Rabies vaccine: $1.00
Total cost to vaccinate all adopted/transferred animals: $687.00
Fee per license: $5.00
Dogs adopted in 2010: 368
Total revenue from dog licenses: $1,840.00
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3.0 Building Use Plan
Overview
The original shelter design called for forty eight (48) concrete kennels in the main dog ward, and
a combined fifty six (56) stainless steel cages in the main cat room, puppy rooms, and incoming
animal spaces. However budget constraints during construction reduced the main dog ward to
just 24 concrete kennels and no new stainless steel caging for other animal spaces.
The updates we propose to the current building-plan allow for an increased capacity of animals
with improved animal handling safety and disease control.
Incoming Animal Space
An obvious constraint found in the current building-plan is the limited space to house incoming
and quarantined animals.
The room currently used to house incoming dogs has the capacity to house 3 large dogs and 3
small dogs, in separate wire crates stacked on top of one another. The crates are becoming a
hazard to the dogs they contain and compromise safety to staff, as some crates are coming apart
due to repeated attempts of escape.
A more practical solution is to replace the wire crates with stainless steel cages. These would
allow for both a safer, more secure containment and also allow for more thorough disinfection
than the wire crates allow.
Similar problems are encountered with the cat population. Currently, incoming cats are forced to
share a room with cats being isolated (usually because of contagious respiratory infections). As a
result, incoming cats have a high risk of developing these same respiratory infections via
airborne pathogens. A more effective solution is to house the unhealthy cats separately.
We propose the following changes to create separate isolation space for cats and dogs.
1. A new Cat Isolation Room will be created in the room currently utilized for incoming
dogs, and equipped with a new 10ft stainless steel cage assembly containing ten (10)
housing units ( Figure 2 ).
2. Healthy Incoming Cats will continue to be housed in the current Incoming Cat Room.
3. Incoming dogs will be housed temporarily in two 6ft portable stainless steel cage units
containing three (3) housing units each (Figure 3). These portable units would act as
temporary holding for dogs received from road patrol after hours and Animal Control
during operating hours. The units would be located against the east and west walls (the
current location of the chest freezers). The chest freezers would be relocated within the
garage. The portable stainless steel units are much easier to disinfect and provide greater
security for the animals and staff.
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Quarantine Space
In a shelter environment to “quarantine” an animal has a different purpose than to “isolate” one.
Aggressive animals, and those with an unknown health status are quarantined from the general
population and public access for safety. Documented unhealthy animals are isolated from the
general population to prevent the spread of disease.
The current dog Quarantine Room has been used as isolation space and has the ability to house 3
small dogs and 3 large dogs. We propose to continue using this space for isolation of unhealthy
dogs and designate it as “Adult Dog Isolation”.
A new quarantine space will be created in the main dog kennel and designated “Adult Dog
Quarantine”.
Figure 1 illustrates the proposed layout of these new spaces.
Estimated Costs For Incoming and Isolation Space Changes:
Cat Isolation Room Assembly $6,200
(4) 48”W x 29”L x 30”H Double Doors W/ Shelves
(2) 24”W x 29”L x 30”H w/Shelf
Mobile Dog Intake Units, $5,312
(2) 72”W x 29”L x 26”H Double Doors
(4) 36”W x 29” L x 32”H A
Existing stainless steel caging will be repurposed for use for the Incoming Cat Room, no
hardware changes are required for the Adult Dog Isolation Room.
Main Dog Kennel
Given the recent problems encountered while battling Parvovirus in the dog population at the
shelter, and witnessing its extremely contagious and fatal nature, a need to quarantine all
incoming dogs has been established.
All incoming dogs, whether apparently healthy or not, will be housed on the south side of the
dog kennel room for a quarantine period of ten (10) days. During this period access by staff and
public will be strictly regulated. After ten (10) days the incubation period for the virus will
essentially be over, and dogs showing no symptoms can then be moved to the north side of the
kennel room to be viewed by the public.
Existing chain link kennel panels will be re-purposed to form a barrier to physically separate the
two halves of the room ( Figure 1). Creating a physical barrier reduces the opportunity for
visitors or staff to track contagions or parasites (on their hands or soles of their shoes) throughout
the building or into their homes.
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The new Quarantine Area will be outfitted with an additional six (6) "double-decked" cages with
side transfer doors (Figure 4), allowing dogs to be moved between kennels without exiting the
cage or interacting with staff. Currently all dogs must physically be removed from their kennels
for cleaning, greatly increasing the risk of injury to staff by an aggressive dog. This also
contains any virus to two adjacent kennels, as opposed to having virus potentially tracked out of
the kennel during cleaning.
The Main Dog Kennel will be located on the north side of the existing kennel room and will
receive six (6) new raised-kennels to increase capacity (Figure 5) and accommodate larger dog
breeds. No additional drainage will need to be installed as each kennel can be plumbed to the
nearest drain hole with PVC (as opposed to digging a new drain for each kennel).
Estimated Costs For Quarantine and Dog Kennel Improvements
(6) 48”W x 48”L x 82”H Double Decked Kennels w/Slide Transfer Door
(6) 72”W x 72”L x 82”H Single Kennel w/Raised Floor & Drains
$14,105
$13,333
Existing chain link kennel panels and gates will be used to create barriers to the Quarantine area.
Labor costs for installation is not included in this estimate.
Outdoor Exercise Pens
Regular exercise for dogs is critical to maintain their health and temperament. Currently the only
exercise provided is sporadic walks by volunteers. The time requirement to walk 24+ dogs
makes it impractical, at this time, to insure each dog has regular exercise.
To increase exercise time utilizing our current volunteer resources, we propose to construct 10ft
x 20ft dog pens. These pens can be used for extended exercise by multiple dogs under the
supervision of fewer volunteers, and can serve as a “meeting space” for families interested in a
specific dog.
The pens could be located behind the old animal control facility where the ground is solid, level,
and hidden from view from the road side.
Estimated Costs For Dog Pens:
Pea Gravel & Sand Base
$180/Pen
Pens would be constructed from chain link fencing panels already available at no cost. The cost
of labor to prepare the grounds and assemble the pens has not been included in this estimate.
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Control of Public Access
To maintain the health of the population and for the safety of the public, we must control access
to the kennel areas. Currently there is no barrier to entry to any of the main kennel areas from
the office lobby area, allowing visitors to wander from one kennel to the next with an escort. We
propose to install Cypher Locks ( keyless push button ) on entry doors off the lobby area to the
following rooms:
•
•
•
Main Dog Kennel
Puppy Room
Main Cat Room
Cypher Locks can be manually programmed, do not require the distribution of electronic pass
cards, and can be keyed for a master key for emergency purposes.
We also propose to add a key lock to the medical room to secure drugs and vaccine stored within
that space.
Esimated Costs for Cypher Locks
$450/Per Room
Hours of Operation
Given the difficulty of coordinating the six-hour workday of the shelter manager with the
transportation of the inmate workers to arrive early enough to clean the main animal housing
rooms before opening to the public, we propose changing the hours of the shelter from 12 pm to
4 pm. This will allow for the shelter manager to be present from the time the trustees arrive (10
am) to closing time (4 pm).
We further propose to offer public hours each Saturday from 12pm to 4pm. Being the day of the
week most people are not working, we believe public hours on Saturdays would greatly increase
the number of potential adopters visiting the shelter. We would offset weekend hours by closing
to the public one day during the week and use this period for extensive cleaning of the facility.
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4.0 Summary
As the official county holding facility for stray and unwanted pets, it is our duty to not only
protect the health and welfare of resident animals but also the safety and well-being of owned
pets and people alike in the community. Our proposed changes to the procedures and layout of
the current animal shelter aim to do just that. By controlling internal and external parasites and
vaccinating all incoming animals, combined with testing for common diseases, we are not only
providing for their health, but also contributing to the overall health of pets in the community by
limiting the potential for spread of disease.
Furthermore, we can more predictably provide for the health of the shelter's resident animals by
physically separating the healthy from the unhealthy, and our proposed building-use changes
address that issue. These changes also aim to provide for the safety of shelter staff and potential
adopters visiting the shelter by restricting access and accommodating aggressive animals,
reducing the potential for unwanted interaction.
The following is a summary of the material costs for these proposals;
Estimated Annual Medical Costs
Dog vaccines: $3,392
Cat vaccines: $1,971
Rabies:
$687
Testing:
$3,827
Parasites:
$4,767
Medical supplies: $661
Total:
$15,305
Annual Revenue Generated from Health Fees: $14,485
Annual Revenue Generated from Dog Licenses: $1,840
Building-Use Change Costs
Caging:
$11,512
Kennels:
$27,438
Outdoor pens:
$360
Door Locks:
$1,350
Total (less labor): $40,660
We propose that costs for new caging and access control be paid from the Special Fund
consisting of donations from the public for improvement of the shelter.
Costs for the vaccine and testing program would be recovered in its entirety through fees charged
for adoptions or transfer of animals. However, initial “seed funds” are required to start the
program. We therefore propose that the initial six (6) months of the program be funded through
the Special Fund, i.e. approximately $7,000. Thereafter the program will be self sustaining.
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